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A M PlGEUN.

' KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4.1917.

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Patented Nov. 11., 1919.

m IllllllllllIU i311 ll Ill 7 FIG. I.

ALBERT PIGEON. OF NORRISTOWN. PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILDMAN MFG.

CO., OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented X01211, 1919.

' Application filed October 4, 1917. Serial No. 194,666.

uously rotated for ordinary tubular knitting and at times oscillated for knitting heel or too pockets, or the like. For convenience of description I shall refer to the two operations as rotary knitting and oscillatory knitting.

In mv (to-pending application; Serial No.

(333,938, filed June 19, 1911. Patent No.

1,266,044, May 14, 1918, I have shown and described a knitting machine on which the present machine is an improvement; In said. prior application the yarn, fed to the needles, rests on yarn-supporters which serve as means for positively holding the yarn above, and.for definitely spacing it fronn the last: preceding course of the knit fabric. so as to allow the board of the needle to descend well past the supported yarn, before the beard depressor closes the board. The yarn-supporters of my co -pending application furthermore serve -as holders for the knitted web, to prevent it from rising when the needles move upward, and also afford definite horizontal surfaces against which the descending needles may draw otf the new loop of yarn, and thus, by the extent -of their downward movement, determine the lengthpf the loops, without the employment of sinkers.

An object of the present inventionis to provide controlling means for insuring a peculiar position of the yarn-supporters with respect to the needles, at certain critical periods.

A furtherobject of the invention is to combine a pattern mechanism with controlling means'of the above character, whereby the position of the yarn-supporters, with relation to the needles at said periods, may be properly accommodated to the conditions when the change is made from oscillatory knitting to rotary knitting, or vice versa.

These and other objects will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, Figure l. s a perspew tive view of a portion of a knitting machine, having my improvements applied thereto in a preferred form.

Fig, 11, is a partial plan view of the needle cylinder, the yarn-supporters, the cam ring and the operative parts supported thereby. i i

Fig. III, is an inverted plan view of the cam ring for the actuation of the yarnsupporters.

Fig. IV, is an enlarged diagrammatic view, showing the relation of one of the yarn-supporters to a (to-acting needle at the time when. during oscillatory knitting, said needle is descending and is about to draw the yarn (inclosed in its bight) past the tip of the yarn-supporter.

Fig. V, is a similar view of said parts at the corresponding moment during rotary knitting.

Fig. VI, is adetail view in vertical cross section on the line VI, VI, of Fig. II.

Fig. VII, is a diagrammatic plan showing three adjacent needles and two intermediate yarn-supporters in the position corresponding to that. shown in Fig. IV, 1'. 3., at the time when the descending needles have engaged the yarn within their bight-s and are about to snap it. ottfrom the tip of the yarnsupporter, in oscillatory knitting.

Fig. VIII, is a diagrammatic plan view of said parts showing the position of the yarn-supporters at the corresponding time during rotary knitting.

In 'arrying out my invention, I employ a knitting machine having a needle cylinder and actuating devices for rotating or o'scillatin it. The needles are of the springbeauI type, and each of them in the, instance. shown, is provided with an individual beard-depressor, mounted in the groove of the needle cylinder ,and actuat-ed by cams Y I of the usual character. The machine is also provided with yarn-supporters which extend horizontally between the needles. These yarrrsupporters may be of the general ty e shown and described in my said (:O-PGIK ing application, that is to say, each is provided with a fabric-supporting lower ledge and a yarn-supporting upper ledge, the tip or mner extremity of which latter overhangs a portion of the fabricsupporting ledge, with an intervening notch, in which thepreviously formed fabric is enlit of the needle cylinder, said race beingformed in a stationary cam-ring, which surrounds the upper extremity of the needle cylinder- During the greater portion of the needle cylinders travel, the yarn-supporters are protruded to their extreme inward position, corres ')onding to what may be considered as the normal wall of the race, and the withdrawing cam surfaces are three in number, located syinmetricall in the following manner: One is ininie iately opposite to the yarn guide. The other two are respectively adjacent to the knitting cams, and are,

therefore, located at a short distance from,

and on either side of, the yarn guide.

During both rotary and oscillatory knitting all three of these sets of cams are, of course, physically active, but only one of them is functionally operative during rotary knitting, 110., the one which is adjacent to the then active knitting cams, the moveinent of the yarn-supporters by the other two sets of yarn-supporter cams being an idle one. 1.

During oscillatory knitting, however, all three sets of these cams are functionally operative.

As above stated, an important function of the yarn-supporter is due to the fact that its ledge maintains the newly fed yarn in proper position, spaced vertically abo e,- but at a definite distance from the last previously formed series of the fabric loops, this support continuing during a period which allows ample time for the passage of the point of the needle beard down over the yarn and the closure of the beard before the new yarn inclosed by it is drawn dowii through the previously formed loop then upon the shank of the needle. .For the proper performance of this function, the \YH'll-Sll])1)()l'ti lllUSt protrude to a substanring-pressed inwardly (or todown past the tip of the yarn-supporter. In stockingmanufactiire this condition of course corresponds to the period of forma tion of the leg. The leg portion of the stocking is usually knit of a very fine gage. yarn, hence it is essential that the yarn be subjected to the least possible tensile strain in the feeding of the same to the needles. hen the yarn supporters are positioned so as not to protrude substantially within the needle circle during rotating knitting, then, of course, the yarn will slip from the yarn supporters without being bent so as to subject thesame to any great tensile strain. On the other hand, during the formation of the heel and toe pockets, and consequently during the period of oscillatory knitting a .slight protrusion of the yarn-supporter tip within the needle circle is found highly useful. In knitting the heel and toe pockets, a yarn of heavier gz'ige is employed, so that tliesnapping action on the yarn attending the feeding has no injurious strain on the yarn and, therefore, the yarn supporters may be positioned so as to protrude. within the needle circle. This insures the positive support of the yarn and also prevents it being dragged under the yarn-supporting tips by the terminal needle of the 'active series and trappedby the yarn supporter tips and the elevated inoperative needles during oscillatory knitting. To this end -I provide by my 1 present invention means whereby the radial protrusion of the yarn-supporters at the region of that set of knitting-cams which is functionally operative during rotary knitting, may be varied, so that the yarn-supporters may be withdrawn to a greaterextent, at .the knitting point, during rotary knitting, and to a less extent during oscillatory knitting.

As above stated, those cam surfaces for the yarn-supporters, which correspond to the position of the second set of knitting cams, though physically active, are functionally idle during rotary knitting, and, therefore, may, if desired, be made permanently of the desired 'radial extent for proper operation of the yarn-supporter during the period of oscillatory knitting. The third set of cam surfaces which correspond to the position of the yrn guide, and which may be considered as functionally idle dur- I tial distance within the needle circle, but it" 'tirely clear of the needle circle at the time must be withdrawn to the required degree at the period of ultimate descent of the needle in order to permit the yarn biglit inclosed by the needle to be drawn down through the previously formed loop.

In continuous rotary knitting it is desir able that the yarn-supporter should not protrude substantially within the needle circle at the moment when the yarn is to be drawn of passage by the yarn guide, in order to prevent the danger of trapping of the'yarn by the yarn-supporter tip at the passage of that point during the period of oscillatory knitting.

' Referring to the drawings, I have shown my improvements applied to a circular knitting machine, which includes a needle cylinder 1, having a series of spring-beard needles screws 14, extend.

2. The needle cylinder is mounted in a bed plate 3, and is provided with suitable mechanisir. tonrotating, or oscillating it, this nufclianisln being controlled by pattern mechanism in any well known way. The yarn guide for the. main yarn y, has a delivery eye 28, situated at a relatively low level with respect to the needles. The knitting cams for raising or lowering the needles are oi the usual construction, and I'have not, therefore, shown the same in the drawings. The spring-beard needles are provided with needle-lmtts, and these are operated upon by suitable pickers, the lowering picker mechanism being shown at :l, in Fig. I, the, raising cam at 5, and the lowering cam at (3. The clutch for shifting from circular knitting to oscillatory knitting, or vice verse, is controlled by a rod 7 (.oiiperating 4 with each needle is a beard-depressor 8, see

Fig. V I. These beard-de n'essors are operated by means of cams 9', and 10, mounted on the stationary cam ring 11, at the re ion of the respective knitting cams. Each beard-depressor is formed with slots such as 12, and 13 -through which guiding The beard-depressing cams are pressed radially inward, by means of springs 15, the range of their inward movement being limited by stop screws 16. Extending betweenthe needles are the yarn-supporters17, there being a yarn-supporter between each two adjacent needles. -These yarn supporters are carried. and guided in radial slots formed in the ring 18, which surrounds, and is mounted upon, the upper end of the needle cylinder. Each yarn-supporter comprises, at what may be termed its front portion, a fabric supporting ledge 19, and a yarn supporting ledge 20, located above the ledge 19, and-having a projecting tip portion 21, .which overhangs the fab ric supporting ledge, with an intervening. notch, in which the upper edge of the fabric engages, so as to be prevented from rising with tie needles, The rear portion of the yarn-si-pporter is provided with an upwardly projecting butt 24, adapted to cothe butts '24, of the yarn-supporters. The inner wall of said race determines the degree of protrusion ot' the yarn-supporters, and throughout the greater part of its extent, (including the broken away portion of Fig. III), said wall is circular, as indicated at 23. The normally circular wall is, however, provided with three cam inclines, situatcd at 25, .26, and 27, respectively, for effectiug the withdrawal of the yarn-supporters in an outward direction. The. inclines at 27 and 27, may be adjustably mounted in the usual ,manner, but are preterabl y maintained in an unvarying position. when properly adusted in position for any given yarn. The incline at 26, is part of a normally movable section 32, pivotally mounted at one extremity upon the pivot 33, so that. the ra dial distance-of its outer surface, from the axis of revolution of the yarn-supporlers, may be immediately varied by shitting said section. T he devices for shifting the. section 32, will be described later on, it-heing considered important at this point to explain the action of the cams.

During rotary knitting, the movement of the needle cylinder is in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. II, and the knitting is effected by the knitting cams located at the region corresponding to the beard depressor cam 10, which is the one toward the rightin Fig. II. Hence, (since the view of the cam race in Fig. III, is inverted) the withdrawal of the yarn-supporters at this knitting point is effected by the cam incline at 26. During rotary knitting, the cam inclines at 25, and 27, though physically acting upon the yarn-supporter butts, are, as before stated, functionally idle. When said cam incline -26, is in its outermost position, the radial distance of its operative surface is similar to that of the constant radial distance of the incline at 27. The successive positions of the tips when the incline at 26, is in its outermost position, are indicated graphically by the contour of the solid line s,- in Fig. III, and this solid line is therefore characteristic of the positions of the operate with camlsiirfaccs. The yarn-sup-oyarn-supporters during rotary knitting.

porters are mounted so as to move independently of each other, and are moved radially inward, or protr 'ided, by means of the spring 22, which embraces and presses against their rear extremities. The inward movement, orprotrusion, of the yarn-supporters is limited, and their outward movement, or

withdrawahis effected, by means "of cam devices, which are shown in inver ed position in Fig. III.

A stationary cam ring 11, extends around the upper portion of the needle cylinder and overhangs the rear portion of the yarnsupporters. Said ring is provided with a cam race whose Walls depend downwardly and are adapted to recelve between them \Vhen, however, oscillatory knitting is being performed, .the can incline at 26, is swung to its innermost radial position, in dicated by the dotted lines in Fig. III, and consequently, the position of the tips of the yarn-supporters as the latter pass this incline, is indicated by the short dotted portion 8' of the line 8. It will be understood, of course, that the yarn. supporters are yieldingly forced outwardly and the cam inclines 25, 26. and'27 are limiting cams, so that when the cam'incline 26 is in the full line position in Fig. 3 for rotating knitting, the tips of the yarn supporters do not. protrude within the needle circuit, while when the cam is in the dotted line position shown in this ligure,.t-hen the tips of the yarn su'pporters will be pressed farther toward the center of the needle cylinder and will rtrude beyond the needle circle and this is during oscillating knitting.

Referring now to Figs. VII and VIII, I

have illustrated diagranunaticallyand on I an enlarged scale, the general relations of part-way between the needles, and that the position 0' the corresponding moment in cam incline 27. :It will notedfl thafithe yarn gf, rests upon them at the moment of its descent with the needle, so that there is a slight momentary indentation and stretching'of theyarnbetween the needles, due to the fact that it has to-be snapped 01f from the tips. 4:-

-Referrin now/to Fig. VIII, where the rotary knitting is.shown,"it will be seen that the tips I of the .ya'rn-suppoiters 17,-

are completely withdrawn' from the vneedle circle so as to be clear of the yarn. This position is also characteristic of the moment when the yarn-supporters pass by the yarn guide, corresponding to the. region of the yarn is delivered to the iieedle's from" the yarn guide 28, at a comparatively low feeding point, and close. ,tofthe needle. cylinder,

y arn supporters well forward, at the critical point in the change of the direction of movement of the needle c -'linder relative to the feed of the yarn, this supporting of the yarn is accomplished and, as above noted, the yarn is prevented from being dragged under the yarn supporter and trapped by said yarn supporter tips and the elevated inoperative needles.

The mechanism whereby the radial position of the cam incline at. :26, may he raried is as follows: The section 32, which carries the cam-incline 26, and which is pivotally mounted at 33, is engaged by a pin 36,-{sec Fig. VI), which is rigidly secured to the end of a lever 35, and projects down.

through an opening 3}, in the cam ring, and

into an opening in the movable seetion32. The lever 35, which is fulcrumed at 3S, on the top of the cam ring '1'1, (see Fig. 11) projects outwardly beyond the cam ring, and its free end 39, is adapted to be engaged by an arm 40, carried by a bracket 41, which .-is fixed to an arm' 42, secured to the rod 7,

which controls the clutch for shifting from circular knitting to oscillatory knitting, and vice versa;' This bracket also carries the controlling finger 43, for-one of the pickers, and a controlling-fin er 44, for the raising and lowerin cams. he arm40, is'ad'apted to engage tlic. angular end portion 39, of

the lever 35, when the. slide rod 7-is moved,

in, and'tlns occurs "when the-clutch isshifted so asto .cause the'needle cylinder ,to

mtate for circular .knitting; .An, adjustable so thattheyarn is wrapped about the outer -g-"stoptfi,limits-the inward movement-of the faces o'f the series of needles at a eomparativelyobtuse angle tothe-axis ofthe-cylina" der, and rests upon the shelfformedi by, the

series of jyarn-supporting ledfigles. '20. The holding of'th'e yarn in' a. de ite-and apofjyarh supporters during'thedescent of the' necdlesf until the boards have passed over the yarn and are mii- .position to be depressedfisweryimportant for positively insuringthe feed of the yarn td the' needles. After .'tlie-. needles'have received the. am under the boards and the same have n pressed, the complete withdrawal of the yarn supporters is 'desimhle so that the yarn is not bent and lcquirral to besnapped off the yarn supporter tips. In oscillatory knitting as for heelaml toe pockets, the protrusion of the yarn supporter tips so as .to bendthc yarn is very important, so as lever- 35, ,Thearm 40, .while slightly flexible is lsiifiiciently rigid to .prevent the- ".spring .which tends 'to move theya n snipporters inward toward the center of t a p v cylinder,;;from moving the le\-'er -:3 5,'.also, profnmatel'y' horizontal posltlon'orr the shelf unless a jamming should oecur,-in ;;which case. the .arm 40, can-yield suflioiently to .prevent breakage. For,- operative purposes, however; the armj4Q, cooperates with the levcr'35,- so as-to move the end thereof attached tothe section'32, outwardly, and this swings the section 32, on its pivot'so-as to' reposition the projecting cam incline- 26.:

- The -wallof the opening 37, limits the movementk f the ,pin 36, through the action of the spring 22, of-theyarnsupporters when the arm 40,- is. moved away from the lever35.- i

It will .be noted that I- have provided means whereby the degree of the withdrawal of the yarn-supporters maybe immediately varied according to the conditions desi able for rotary knitting and oscillatoryhnitting respectively. This mode of operation is irrespective of the feature of general adjustability of the yarn-supporter mally permanent radial distances, in order to accommodate yarns of different weights cams; at what may he considered as norinto or out of operation by suitable pattern "mechanism, such as is well known in this class of machines, but to produce the \be'st results, the delivery point of said guides, when in operative position, should be at a. relatively low level and close to the needles.

In the foregoing specification I have described the employment of an individual beard-depressor for each needle, but it must be understood that this is merely a preferred construction. Furthermore, while in the instance set forth the yarn-sup porters are described as spring pressed inwardly, such method of actuation is not essential to my invention.

Having thus'dcscribed my invention, I claim :j 1. A knitting machine including in combination, a needle cylinder, knitting cams, means for effecting the relative movement of said cylinder and cams, spring beardneedles carried by said cylinder, means to depress the needle beards, yarn supporters for supporting and positioning the yarn while the beards of the needles are descending past the same, means for rotating the needle cylinder for plain knitting and for oscillating the cylinder for oscillating knitting, means for protruding and withdrawing the yarn supporters in correlation with the knitting action, and means for'varying. the eXtei'it of withd 'awal of the yarn supporters with respect to the needles when changing from rotating to oscillating knittin A knitting machine includingin combination, a needle cylinder, knitting cams, means for effecting the relative movement of said cylinder and cams, spring beard needles carried by said cylinder, means for'depressing the needle beards, yarn supporters for supporting and positioning the yarn while the beards of the needles are descending past the same, means for rotating the needle cylinder for plain knitting and for oscillating the cylinder for oscillating knitting, means for prgtruding and withdrawing the yarn supporte s in correlation with the knitting action, nteans for withdrawing the yarn supporters to a greater extent for rotating knitting than for oscillating knitting.

A knitting machine including in combination, a needle cylinder, knitting cams,

needle cylinder for plain knitting and for oscillating the cylinder for oscillating knit- .ting, yielding means for protruding the yarn supporters in correlation with the knitting action and cam inclines for withdrawing the yarn supporters in correlation with the knitting action, andmeans for varying the position of the -am inclines acting upon the yarn\ supporters when changing from rotating knitting to oscillating knitting.

4. A knitting machine including, in combination, a needle cylinder; means adapted to rotate it for plain tubular knitting, and to oscillate it for the production of heel and toe pockets; knitting cams; spring-bezird needles carried by the cylinders; means to depress the needle-beards; yarn-supporters extending between adjacent needles; means' for protruding and \vithdra\\" ing said yarnsupporters, including means whereby the tips of the yarn-supporters are protruded within the needle circle at the region of the knitting point, during oscillatory knitting, and are withdrawn from the needle circle at the knitting point during rotary knittin A knitting machine including, in combination, a. needle cylinder; means adapted to rotateand to oscillate said cylinder; knitting cams; spring beard needles carried by the cylinder; means to depress the needlebcards; yarn-supporters extending between adjacent needles; an actuating cam for said yarn-supporters, said cam including a pivotally mounted section for immediately varying the extent of Withdrawal of the yarn-supporters at the region of a knitting point when changingfrom rotating to oscillating movement of the cylinder; and means for swinging said section.

6. A knitting machine including, in combination, a needle cylinder; knitting cams;

means for rotating andfor oscillating said cylinder, said means including clutch mechzv nism for changing the character of movement; spring beard needles carried by the cylinder; means to depress the needle beards yarn-supporters extending between adjacent needles; devices for independently moving said yarn-supporters radially with relationto the needle circle, said devices including a sectionalcam for immediately varying the radial position of the yarnsupporters, at the region of the knitting point which is operative during rotary knitting; and means for operativeiy connecting said sectional cam to the clutch slnltmg nicchanism for changing from rotary to oscillatory knitting, whereby the yarn-supporters may bgautomatigally cau ed to prosigned my name at Norristown, Pennm, this trnde a 1ess cllstancc, wltl relatlon to the first day of October, 1917. needle cn'cle at sand knitting point during ALBERT M. PIC-IRON.

circular knitting, than during oscillatory \Vitnesses: 5 kmttln ELInU R. Ilomm'rs.

In testlnlony whereofl- I have hereunto OWEN BALLQRD. 

